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NCRE to research Asia-Pacific view on European UnionPublished by the Communications and Development Department
12 March 2004
The National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) at the University of Canterbury is launching a two-year research project to find out what the European Union means to citizens in the Asia Pacific region.
The project - “Public, Elite and Media Perceptions of the EU in Asia Pacific Region (Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Thailand): A Comparative Study” - is funded by a €144,000 grant from the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education and Culture. There are nine members of this transnational research team working under the direction of NCRE Director, Professor Martin Holland.
Dr Natalia Chaban, NCRE research fellow; Katrina Stats, University of Melbourne, Australia; Paveena Sutthisripok, Chulalonkorn University, Thailand; and, Kim Se Na, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Korea, outlined the project today during the NCRE Seminar Series event entitled, “Australia-Korea-NZ-Thailand Jigsaw: EU Perceptions in Asia-Pacific - Launching the Project.”
Researchers plan to trace the image of Europe in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Thailand using national media analysis, elite and public surveys, and contribute their findings to the debate on external perspectives on European integration.
There is little data available of how people in this region perceive the EU, said Professor Holland.
“Empirical analysis of contemporary general public perceptions of Europe, one of the dominant economic, political and cultural counterparts for the Asia Pacific, is critical to understanding changes in Asia Pacific society. The findings will promote discussion and knowledge of the EU in the Asia Pacific region, inform policy-making, and create an Asia Pacific database of resources for students, researchers, academics and practitioners.”
Data generated by the project will have direct influence on regional public policy development as it offers a more informed consideration and acceptance of different initiatives from the EU and on behalf of four participating countries, which are important political and economic agents in the region.
Two successful pilot projects have already been completed to ensure the scientific quality of this research. In 2002/3 the NCRE conducted the New Zealand project, “Rediscovering Europe: New Zealand Public, Media and Elite Perception of the EU” and the University of Melbourne’s Contemporary Europe Research Centre (CERC) conducted the Australian project, “National Elite Perceptions on the EU”.
The EU perspectives project will set up a Regional and Transnational
Research Group organised by the academic community in the four countries.
The lead organisation for project co-ordination is designated to Professor
Holland, President of EUSA-NZ, and Jean Monnet Chair.
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